| Model Bus Zone News April & May 2024 |
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| March 2024 | Model Bus Zone News Index | April 2024 |
| Click the links to view the further details related to the News item. |
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| Filter Content: EFE Model Buses Creations Northcord |
Monday 6 May Updated 7 May |
| Omnidekka Models Release Update & Model Cancellation |
| Chris Cotton has today sent me an update on his release schedule for a number of planned Omnidekka commissioned Models. Sadly due to a license issue, the planned ADL Enviro200 MMC model (MMC2) in Abellio London red livery has been cancelled. Anyone who has placed a pre-order, should email Transport Nostalgia to arrange a refund. Note: The new www.omnidekka.co.uk online store & Transport Nostalgia Facebook page have not been updated at the time of posting . Updated 7 May with correct livery/operator details for the OM3 model. Current expected release dates for other planned Omnidekka models are: OM3 - Stagecoach South (Cancer Research Livery) Dennis Enviro400 - Due August 2024 OM1 - Lancashire United Optare Versa - Due Q3/2024 WSD2 - Stagecoach London Wright Streetdeck - Due Q4/2024 or Q1/2025 GNE - Go North East Optare Solo SR - Due Q4/2024 TNBUS1 - Dealer White ADL Enviro200 MMC - Due Q1/2025 ES22 - First Midland Bluebird Scania Omnidekka - Due 2025 Pre-orders for the above future models can be placed via the re-launched www.omnidekka.co.uk online store |
Saturday 4 May Updated 7 May |
| Model Buses Creations Latest Releases |
| Model Buses Creations has released the commissioned Northcord models below, Update 7 May: MBC still have a quantity of the UKBUS0070 & UKBUS0072 models available for sale on their website.  UKBUS0070 Stagecoach Ambassador (Route 180) - Alexander Dennis Enviro400  UKBUS0071 Stagecoach Ambassador (Selkent Ambassador) - Alexander Dennis Enviro400  UKBUS0072 Go Ahead London Driver Trainer - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 Visit the MBC online store to pre-order for the latest exclusive commissioned models at Modelbus.uk. |
Saturday 4 May |
| Northcord Models Press Release UKBUS6531 |
| This press release was issued by Northcord Models on the 18th April ADL Enviro400 MMC ukbus 6531 Stagecoach Manchester Following the significant success in launching the brand new casting of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC model in the liveries of National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Bluestar, Stagecoach West Scotland, Southern Vectis, Stagecoach South, Ensign Bus, Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach North West, Go North East, Stagecoach North Scotland and Go South Coast Stagecoach MacMillan and Spirit of London releases Northcord Model Company is now releasing the twentieth livery on the 10.9 metre long, single-door casting – ukbus 6531 in the livery of Stagecoach Manchester with full, new, standard local livery.  ukbus 6531 features Stagecoach Manchester 11523 (SK20 AVY) working on route 192 to Piccadilly. 11523 was new to Stagecoach Manchester in 2020 as one of the earliest factory-painted examples in this new, standard, ‘local livery’. Other than the Royal Jubilee model, ukbus 6529, with its royal-associated colours, this is the first representation by Northcord Model Company of the newest standard livery, termed “local livery”. The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC ukbus 6531 is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square, gasket-mounted windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on the ukbus 6531 model is its single tree protector at the front. The front dome on the model is significant, with curved windscreens on both upper deck and lower deck.  Northcord Model Company is also creating new design standards within the interior of both saloons. These features, inside the compartments, will represent the real, outstanding layout of the Enviro400 MMC, such as the extensive portrayal of handrails on upper deck and lower deck, etc. The brand new 10.9 metre Enviro400 MMC bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan), 80M Bus Model Shop (HK) respectively. The UKBUS6531 model is limited to 1008 pieces worldwide. |
Saturday 4 May |
| Model Bus News Roundup |
| Apologies for the lack of posts over the past three weeks, I've had some technical issues in regards to posting updates to the site hosting service, I believe the problem has now been identified & resolved. What follows is a catch up on some of the developments in regards to model bus news. Some further items will follow over the coming days. Buckie Model Centre The latest VDL Futura 2 additions in the 1:87 (HO) scale for the Scottish Coach (McLeans/Megabus) & British Coach Collections (Stanley Travel/Flixbus) are expected in stock imminently, the new 1:76 scale Plaxton Panorama coaches in Scottish Citylink & Megabus liveries are due in stock on the 10 May. Corgi(OOC) May-August Catalogue  View new Corgi May-August 2024 model releases Corgi has released their second Catalogue of 2024 covering the period between May to August. As expected there are no new models to report for the OOC range, the catalogue contains a number of new items for the Aviation & Vanguard ranges as well as several "Pop Culture" items. A number of OOC models are however being produced exclusively for Model Buses Creations. View the Corgi YouTube May-August announcement video Corgi has also launched a range of Retro Corgi models from the 1960s/70s period, the models are available individually or as a collection through the new "Corgi Model Club", this offers members a model release each month in a similar vain to the partwork collections previously produced by Atlas Editions. Currently there are 38 models listed on the Corgi site, although none are bus or coach related. EFE Road/EFE Rail Summer 2024 Release Bachmann announced their British Railways products for the Summer 2024 period on the 1st May, the EFE Road vehicle range releases will be the four AEC Routemasters announced at the London Bus Museum event in mid April. The YouTube Bachmann video below, starts with a piece covering the EFE Road models The full list of model railway products from the various Bachmann ranges can be viewed HERE. The EFE Rail range will see five further releases of the OO scale Adams O2 steam locomotive, some of which feature a new tooling variation. There are also two new OO scale toolings for the range, these being a Plasser 12T YOB Diesel-Hydraulic Crane (3 versions) and GWR 10T 'Bloater' Fish Van (5 versions). Oxford Diecast Still no date as yet regarding the announcement of the next batch of planned new model toolings & further colour options for existing models. Rapido Trains UK The second batch of Birmingham Leyland Fleetlines are in the final stages of production and are expected to be ready for shipping to the UK towards the middle of this month. They are expected to arrive in the UK in early July. Likewise, the Bedford OB Duple Vista coaches are progressing through the factory and are about three weeks behind the Fleetlines, so these will likely to be released late July or early August. The latest Rapido Trains Newsletter contains a couple of pictures showing some of the Fleetline sample models. |
Tuesday 16 April |
| Official EFE Road Photographs of Summer 2024 Models |
Bachmann Europe have kindly supplied a set of higher quality photographs of the pre-production models and copies of the announcement boards used on their stand on Sunday.  Click thumbnails to open PDF document files & model photographs (each will open in new tab)             The models are expected to be released this July and the UK RRP with be £44.95. Further details can be found on the Bachmann Europe Website |
Tuesday 16 April |
| Model Buses Creations 2024 Models Press Release |
| The following press release has been posted on Facebook by Model Buses Creations regarding their planned model releases for Summer 2024. Model Buses Creations Press Release April 2024 Hello, we are live at Brooklands Spring Gathering and are pleased to confirm our Ambassador and Driver Training models have arrived and will be processed for delivery next week. We are pleased to announce our first four Model Buses Creations announcements of 2024. We formally announced these models to the public at the London Bus Museum spring gathering at Brooklands today. We have been working hard on the next run of models and we expect 2024 will be our biggest year for commission projects. We will follow this announcement later in 2024 with our next run of four more releases. Our first four model releases are in partnership with Northcord Model Company and they are all Scania Omnicity Double Deckers. After the successful sell out release of our dealer white Scania Omnicity Ukbus 0069, we wanted to release some more and especially some London versions. We promised a London Scania in our 2023 range and here it is in the 2024 range with a slight change, which we hope you will all like. Stagecoach had 174 Scania Omnicities - all delivered during the period that they were known as East London Bus Group - the first arrived at Rainham Garage in November 2008 and entered service on route 248. Subsequent deliveries went to West Ham, Plumstead, Bow & Leyton Garages. They've been progressively withdrawn with the last route scheduled to be operated by them, the 97, converting to Wrightbus Streetdecks from 30th March 2024. A handful remain in service at Plumstead and West Ham Garages as spare vehicles but are planned to be withdrawn within the next month or so.
We will be making further updates on these models over the next few months with updates on pre order dates and delivery dates, currently we estimate these to arrive in Q3 of 2024, but this is subject to change. We would like to thank Kevin Cooper of Stagecoach London, Matthew Arnold of Stagecoach South East and Danny Chan of Northcord Model Company for making these vehicles come to life in 1:76 models. To keep up to date with these releases, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and on our website, at www.modelbus.uk. Many ThanksIwan Jones MBC Production Manager. Modelbus.uk |
Tuesday 16 April |
| New EFE Road Models Announced at Brooklands Event |
Bachmann Europe attended the London Bus Museum's Spring Gathering today and as can be seen from the photograph below didn't have their stand in the traders marquee as I posted yesterday. Four new pre-production sample models were on display and these will be part of Bachmanns Summer announcement due in early May.  All four models are expected to be released in July and use the newly retooled RM class Routemaster tooling which has been allocated E417xx product numbers. The tooling now has additional panel beading on the between deck side panels, improved indicators & mirrors. The four models are being released to tie in with the Routemaster's 70th Anniversary this year and will comprise of three Red London Transport & one provincial livery.      E41701 London Transport RM8 (VLT 8) Route 21 to Sidcup Garage. - AEC Routemaster RM Class RM 8 was the first production vehicle built & was used for many years as an experimental vehicle at Chiswick Works. It finally enetered passenger service at Sidcup Garage in 1976, and became the garages Showbus, and was a common sight at many bus rallies in the 1980s. The model depict the the vehicle circa 1976.      E41702 London Transport RM1127 (127 CLT) Route 90B to Fulwell Garage. - AEC Routemaster RM Class RM 1127 was delievered to Fulwell Garage in 1962. After it's first overhaul at Aldenham Works it recieved the fairly short lived open roundel livery used during the early 1970 it was allocated once again to Fulwell Garage again. The model depicts the vehicle circa 1972 on route 90B bound for its home garage.      E41703 London Transport RM1546 (546 CLT) Route N82 to Woolwich Arsenal Stn - AEC Routemaster RM Class RM546 entered service at Peckham Garage in April 1963 and was used on route 36. It was transfered to Mortlake Garage in 1968 and spent much of it time there in store. It was sent for overhaul in 1975 and was re-allocated to New Cross Garage where it operated route 53 and as depicted on the model Night route N82.      E41704 Confidence Bus, Leicester 15 (WLT 655) Route 00 Special Service / Shuttle Bus. - AEC Routemaster RM Class RM655 was bought by Confidence Bus in 1985 and has now spent 40 years with the Leicester operator. The model depicts the vehicle in it's current condition, it is now used for private hires & society Wedding duties. Further details can be found on the Bachmann Europe Website I noticed at the event today that TTC Diecast has reworked a number of there 2019 commissioned East London Leyland National mark I EFE models 16610Z (LS35 THX535P / Route D5). There are two further code 3 versions available:   1. East London Buses (LS88 - OJD888R / Route 278 East Beckton)  2. East London Buses (LS395 - BYW 395V / Route D6 Hackney Central Stn)  Both models have additional signage on both sides, LS88 has "To Hire This Bus" while LS395 has "The Docklands Shuttle". They were priced £34.99 each at the event. |
Sunday 14 April |
| Model Buses Creations New Models Announced at Brooklands Event |
| Two further new Scania Omnicity Double Deck models were announced at today's London Bus Museum Spring Gathering. These join the two previously announced models. The details of all four are as follows. UKBUS0075 Stagecoach London 15041 - 504 pieces UKBUS0076 Stagecoach South East Driver Trainer - 504 pieces UKBUS0077 Stagecoach London 15042 - 504 pieces UKBUS0078 London Bus Red - 108 pieces   |
Saturday 13 April |
| EFE Road To Announce New Models At London Bus Museum Event |
| Bachmann Europe will be attending the London Bus Museum's Spring Gathering this Sunday (14th April) and will be using the event to announce the latest additions to the EFE Road range of 1:76/OO scale diecast model collectables. For those attending the event, Bachmann will have a stand in conjunction with the Bromley Bus Preservation Group which will be located in the Traders Marquee. The marquee will be located in front of the LBM building.  Further details can be found on the Bachmann site. |
Wednesday 10 April |
| Model Buses Creations Next Northcord Releases |
| Model Buses Creations expect to recive and start dispatching their latest commissiomed Northcord models next week. All three of the Northcord models below, have now sold out. UKBUS0070 Stagecoach Ambassador (Route 180) - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 UKBUS0071 Stagecoach Ambassador (Selkent Ambassador) - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 UKBUS0072 Go Ahead London Driver Trainer - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MBC will announced their new models planned for Summer 2024 at the London Bus Museum's Spring Gathering event at the Brooklands Museum this coming Sunday (14 April).  The MBC Corgi OOC Kings Coronation New Bus for London models (CP46601A/B) are still on schedule for delivery in May and pre-orders are open. Visit the MBC online store at Modelbus.uk. |
Friday 5 April |
| Confirmed Northcord UK Model Release |
The following Northcord model has now been released to UK model retailers. UKBUS6203 Alexander Dennis Enviro400H - Stagecoach London (12144/LX61 DDZ - Route 15 Regent Street) |
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| March 2024 | Model Bus Zone News Index | April 2024 |